Huskers Post Two Event Wins at Arizona State Invitational

Tempe, Ariz. - The Nebraska track and field team opened the 2013 outdoor season at the Arizona State Invitational on Saturday. The Huskers came away with two titles on the day as Chad Wright earned the men’s discus crown and Jodi-Rae Blackwood won the men’s 400m hurdles.

The reigning NCAA champion in the discus, Wright posted a throw of 189-3 (57.68) to finish first. His throw ranks fifth in the nation entering this weekend. Blackwood took home the men’s 400m hurdles title as he recorded a time of 52.47 in the event. His time ties for 16th nationally.

Morgan Wilken finished fourth in the women’s discus, posting a throw of 172-10 (52.69) to rank sixth in the nation. Annie Jackson finished seventh with a personal-best throw of 154-8 (47.14).

Wright also finished third in the men’s shot put as he recorded a throw of 58-3 ¼ (17.76), coming in at 11th nationally. Taylor Shapland opened his outdoor season with a 10th-place finish and a throw of 52-9 ¼ (16.08). Jackson took fourth for the women, posting a throw of 50-6 (15.39), a mark that ranks 16th nationally. Veronica Grizzle finished eighth, recording a throw of 47-9 ¾ (14.57), while Carlie Pinkelman tallied an 11th-place finish with a throw of 46-0 ½ (14.03).

In the men’s hammer throw, Cole Ingram finished 11th with a mark of 164-2 (50.03). Grizzle came in eighth for the women, posting a mark of 181-6 (55.32), while Pinkelman finished 11th with a throw of 165-1 (50.33). Grizzle also recorded a throw of 111-6 (33.98) to finish 15th in the javelin.

Also in the men’s 400m hurdles, Mark Hilderbrand finished third with a personal-best time of 53.79 and Sean Pille took seventh with a time of 56.00.

Tibor Koroknai finished fourth in the men’s 110m hurdles, recording a time of 14.44. Pille finished with a time of 15.24 in the event to come in ninth.

Additionally, Carlos Hernandez represented the Huskers in the high jump at the UTEP Springtime meet. He notched a leap of 6-8 ¾ (2.05) to finish fifth.